In the following experiments on the decomposition of nitrous oxide by hydrogene, the gases were carefully generated in the mercurial apparatus, and their purity ascertained by the tests mentioned in [Research I]. They were measured in small tubes graduated to grains, and then transferred into the detonating tube, which was eight tenths of an inch in diameter, and graduated to ten grain measures.
The space occupied by the gases being noted after the inflammation by the electric shock, green muriate of iron, and prussiate of potash, were successively introduced, to ascertain if any nitrous acid had been formed. The absorption, if any took place, was marked, and the gases transferred into a narrow grain measure tube, and their bulk and composition accurately ascertained.
b. The hydrogene employed was procured from water by means of zinc and sulphuric acid. 50 grain measures of it fired by the electric spark, with 30 grain measures of oxygene containing one eleventh nitrogene, gave a residuum of about 4. Nitrous gas mingled with those 4, indicated the presence of rather less than 1 of unconsumed oxygene. In another experiment 23 of it, with 20 of the same oxygene left rather more than 6 residuum.
The nitrous oxide was apparently pure, for it left a remainder of about ,05 only, when absorbed by common water.
c. 30 of hydrogene were fired with 40 of nitrous oxide; the concussion was very great, and the light given out bright red; no perceptible quantity of nitrous acid was formed; the residual gas filled a space equal to 52. No part of it was absorbable by water, it gave no diminution with nitrous gas, when it was mingled with a little oxygene, and again acted on by the electric spark, an inflammation and slight diminution was produced.
d. 33 of hydrogene were fired with 35 of nitrous oxide: nitrous acid was produced in very minute quantity; the gas that remained was not absorbable by water, and filled a space equal to 37 grains. Nitrous gas mingled with these, underwent a very slight diminution.
e. 46 hydrogene were fired with 46 nitrous oxide. The quantity of nitrous acid formed was just sufficient to tinge the white prussiate of potash. The gases filled a space equal to 49, gave no perceptible diminution with nitrous gas, and did not inflame with oxygene.
f. 40 hydrogene were fired with 39 nitrous oxide; no perceptible quantity of nitrous acid was formed. The residual gas filled a space equal to 41; was unabsorbable by water, underwent no diminution when mingled with nitrous gas; or when acted on by the electric spark in contact with oxygene.
g. 20 hydrogene were fired with 64 nitrous oxide; after detonation the expansion of the gases was greater in this experiment than any of the preceding ones; dense white fumes were observed in the cylinder, and a slow contraction of volume took place. After a little green muriate of iron had been admitted, the gases filled a space equal to 73: prussiate of potash mingled with the muriate, gave a deeper blue than in any of the preceding experiments. The residual gas was unabsorbable by water: 65 of it, mingled with 65 of nitrous gas, diminished to 93; whilst 65 of common air, with 65 of nitrous gas, gave 84.
h. 8 of hydrogene were fired with 54 of nitrous oxide; the same phænomena as were observed in the last experiment took place; nitrous acid was formed; after the absorption of which the residual gas filled a space equal to 55. 50 of this, with an equal quantity of nitrous gas, diminished to 76. In these processes the temperatures were from 56° to 61°.